Closed [The great Bazaar] Herbs & Remedies (Min)

[Kayle]

Winter 20th, 512AV

The late morning rays shone through the cloud, creating golden beams of light that touch the land. The sky was filled with light grey clouds, but showed no signs of possible rain. Kayle walked towards the Stormhold Citadel, holding his cloak shut to keep warm from the seasonal weather. Ren Sat within his backpack, sheltered from the outside temperature. The wind blew slightly as Kayle rubbed his hands together.

Kayle made his way to the citadel with no objectives in mind. He was just going to browse at the different wares and buy items that caught his interest. Upon getting closer to the Stormhold Citadel, he could see the markets that surrounded it. Stalls filled with strange fruits and venders with full of interesting ceramics caught Kayle’s eyes.

He looked at the different stalls as he passed them, until he accidentally bumped into a person. Slightly dazed, Kayle immediately gave an apology. He looked at the person he bumped into, it was a woman. She looked as if he was buy herbs, but Kayle bumped her dropping the herb on the floor.

“I’m really sorry about this” Kayle said, as he picks up the herbs.

[Min]

There really was so much to learn! Min had stood engrossed at the herb woman’s stall for the better part of an hour, carefully scrutinizing each bit of plant material on display, asking a hundred questions, and trying her best to commit the answers to memory. The herbalist was more forthcoming with her knowledge than the few healers that Min had encountered in the Bazaar – those who sold a quick potion or salve as an alleged remedy for this malady or that. Those – most of whom Min considered charlatans – held close their secrets, not that they would be worth so much, as their tonics were likely of no use to anyone. But this woman, Min had found, only sold the ingredients with which to make real medicines – salves and ointments and potions and tinctures and distillations that could really cure, or ease, or prevent. So obviously, it was in the old woman’s best interest to entice potential buyers – and in the Myrian healer she had spotted one eager to learn, and to try, and to experiment. She shared all that she knew about each plant, all the various parts, and also a variety of fungi and preserved animal parts and even powdered minerals. It was all so very foreign to the Myrian, for the environs of the north produced life forms that weren’t seen in the steaming jungles of Falyndar. With wide eyes and parted lips she soaked in as much as she could, thinking to herself that next time she really must bring a pen and notebook. She had made a few purchases, placing them carefully in a shallow open basket slung over her forearm. Foxglove – said to have a slowing effect on the pulse – sometimes lethally so. Bearberry – to make the elderly pass water more easily – and said to induce dreams of great spiritual significance. A type of yew helpful for the wasting disease. Prince’s Pine, for eye sores. Yarrow – for pain relief and as a coagulant … And one called Devil’s Club…. Her attention focused on the herbalist, who was expounding on the attributes of yet another indigenous plant, Min paid no heed to the others that milled about her. But suddenly, her arm was jostled, and the shallow basket tipped enough that some of the plant material fell out and down to the floor of the market. Top most on the small pile were several stalks, leaves intact, of the Devil’s Club. The woman had been quick to point out to the Myrian before ever Min had touched the plant that it was covered with both long and minute spines – and simply the smallest brush against any of its parts could break those off in the skin, resulting in an itchy, stinging, painful rash. As Min looked over her shoulder at the fallen plants, she also saw the young man who was bending over, apparently to pick them up. “Do not touch!” she practically yelled in his ear, her hand roughly grabbing at his shoulder, trying to stop his arm in its approach to the obnoxious plant. OOCI didn't know if Kayne would recognize the plant, but if he normally would have, maybe you could blame it on the dimmer light inside the underground bazaar? As he just came in from the outside? Whatever works for you

[Kayle]

Kayle reached down to pick up the plants. His hand reach closer and closer to it, not knowing what harm the plant could do. He was a few inches way from grasping the poisonous plant. Suddenly he was yelled at and was pushed back causing him to stumble a bit.

He was once again daze. His ears slightly ached and his shoulder felt slightly uncomfortable also. The world felt as if it was distorted, and he thought he saw double of everything. His recovered after a brief moment, and then he looked at the woman with the expression of confusion.

“What was that for? I was only trying to help.” He said as he rolled his shoulder, trying to ease the uncomfortable feeling.

“Is there a reason i shouldn’t hel-“

“She was saving you” The woman at the stall said, cutting of kalye’s words.

Kayle turned his head, looking at the woman behind the stall with a slightly puzzled look on his face. He then turns back to the woman that he bumped into, still bearing the puzzled expression. His eyes darted back and forth between her and the plants, trying to find out why.

“Really?” Kayle asked.

Suddenly, Ren popped out of his bag and jumped on to Kayle’s head. She sat there and stared at the woman with Kayle, who was use to the ferret jumping on his head.

OOCMy PC is trained in wilderness survival, but currently he hasn't left the city before. So he has no idea about poisonus plants. he only knows how to setup a tent and foraged certain berries or fruits

[Min]

Her grab for his arm ended up mostly as a shove to the shoulder, and the young man stepped back, a bit off balance. Min hadn’t meant to cause him an injury – she was simply trying to prevent one. Of course, he couldn’t have known that and his exclamation and question were justified. Min had crouched down, pulling a bit of her cloak forward to carefully pick up the potentially stinging plant bits, along with the others that had fallen. Meanwhile, the elderly herbalist had already addressed the young man’s question. Min rose and the young man looked at her and then back at the old woman, as if doubtful, though not in a suspicious way. With her herbs and such once again safely stowed, Min held the basket close, to prevent a repeat of what had just happened. She nodded at the young man, and was going to answer him, when suddenly a weasley type creature popped out of his bag and clambered up on to his head. Her dark eyes widened with surprise, and then she found her voice. “Yes, the plant you try to pick up has thorns, small, like hairs.” She held the basket just a small bit out towards him, and she indicated the devil’s club. “They get in your skin. You will hurt. Burn. Sting. For many days. I did not want you to touch.” Her eyes lifted once more to the little animal and she wrinkled her nose a bit. “Why does that rat sit on your head?” She didn’t know that it was a ferret, and even if she had recognized it as such, she did not know the word in Common to name it.

[Kayle]

Kayle listened to the woman explained the dangers of picking up the plant. She showed the plant within the basket, she said it was called Devil’s Club. Kayle looked at the plant, he didn’t know about the plant and he might of mistaken it for a generic plant.

“Oh, Thank you” He said rubbing the back of his head.

Her attention shifted from Kayle to Ren, who sat on his head. Ren stared into the woman’s eyes. Her black beady eyes just watched the woman. The woman wrinkled her nose and asked about the ferret on his head, but she addressed Ren as a rat.

“W-What?!” Kayle said while feeling offended for Ren.
“She’s not a rat, she’s a ferret. They’re the same as a weasel, not a rat.” Kayle explained to the woman.

He rolled his eyes up, seeing the bottom of Ren’s head. Kayle’s gotten used to Ren jumping on his head from time to time. So sometimes he doesn’t notice that he’s walking around with a ferret lounging on his head.

“She sits on my head, because... well, just because...” Kayle answered the woman with an incomplete answer.

Kayle himself was unsure why Ren favoured sitting on his head.

[Min]

Min was not bothered that she had called the animal a rat – the face did look a little pointy like one but clearly it was something else. But she did carefully repeat the word, “Fer-ret. Ferret.” She nodded in affirmation, committing the word to memory. The other word was not known to her either, so she asked, “What is a wee – zell? Wee-zell is the same as Fer-ret?” It seemed odd to have two words for the same thing. Tilting her head a bit, she scrutinized the little animal and said, “We have something like this Fer-ret in Falyndar. It smells.” She wrinkled her nose again, and sniffed. “It is smaller. It is not good to eat. Do you eat Fer-rets?”

[Kayle]

Kayle listen to the woman speaking and articulating. The woman asked about weasels and ferrets being the same. Opps… Kayle thought to himself. He might of made a slight misunderstanding.

“Oh no, weasels and ferrets are two different animals, but they are in the same family like… umm…”
Kayle looked around hoping to find an example. He spots a flowers at the herb stall.
“Ah like those flowers. The red flower and yellow flower are different, but part of the same family” He said, pointing at the flowers.

He checked if Ren was okay before he continued to listen. The woman explained that in, what he assumes if her birthplace is an animal similar to a ferret. However, they couldn’t de eaten. She then asked if ferret could be eaten.

“Heheh… Um..” Kayle said, unable to answer.
“Sorry, I’ve never heard of anyone eating a ferret before so I can’t answer” He said awkwardly.

He looks up at Ren to check once again. There he was met with two black beady eyes that penetrated his soul. Ren looked somewhat angry at Kayle, and she gave a small hiss.

“hahah. Don’t worry Ren, I won't eat you.” he chuckled, rubbing his finger on her neck.

Ren clams down and resumed looking at the woman with Kayle.

“So, why do you have those herb? If you don’t mind me asking” Kayle asked, still rubbing Ren’s neck.

[Min]

She understood the young man’s explanation – how ferrets and weasels were not the same animal, but were related, like the plants he pointed to. “I understand,” she said with a nod. Then she shrugged her shoulders, “Maybe one day, you will be hungry. You will try Ferret.” To this though – or perhaps to assuage the little animal – the young man stated that he would not eat it – not eat her – apparently the thing was a female. It must be a pet, Min concluded, still taken aback that he let the ferret ride about on his head. Then the young man posed his own question and Min answered him readily, “I buy herbs, other plants, from the forest, the woods, the fields. They will make good medicines. The woman has told me their uses.” Min gestured towards the old herbalist. “I am a healer, but these plants do not grow where I am from. So…I learn. I try this, I try that. I make something new, maybe. To heal.” Also to poison, but she didn’t think that needed to be broadcast aloud in this public place.

[Kayle]

“You’re a healer?” Kayle said in a curious tone.
“You must be a kind person then!” Kayle said in glee.

Kayle believed healers, doctors or anyone who improved one’s condition is a kind person deep inside, even if they have a terrible personality. The practice of helping or saving another from death is one of Kayle's many dreams. This could be his chance to learn about the secrets of preserving life.

“C-c-can you t-t-each me…?” Kayle nervously said.

The last time he asked for someone’s help was three years ago, and that was from his closest friend, but he still felt awkward about asking for help back then. However, he wanted to learn how to help others who are ill or injured.

“ P-please, Teach me” He added, still in a nervous tone.

[Min]

Min eyed the young man, a slightly skeptical expression on her face. She knew nothing about him and she wasn’t the most open or trusting of people – though perhaps for a Myrian she was more so than most. That was a result of her desire to learn – and she had found one could not learn about people if one treated them like disgusting vermin that you had no desire to see or touch or be around. She did feel a certain amount of superiority to most people, but this was based more on her own intolerance for stupidity and foolishness than it was merely because she was Myrian. So this request to, what – take on a student? – wasn’t something she felt inclined to jump all over. So she gave him a critical look, noting how nervous he was already. She wasn’t going to help much, when she said, “No, I am not kind. But I do have some skills.” In a slightly condescending tone, she asked, “You tell me, Mr. Boy-Who-Wears-A Ferret-On-His-Head, why do you want to be a healer? What skills do you have?”